Take ti out of the case and take more pictures. How big is it? What's it made of, what does the other side look like? What is that white stuff/ Cotton or firm plastic? Does the case close? Does that silver cigar like thing come out?

What is the text on the case and on the tube in the case?

How big is it?

Where did you get it?

Silver ingot ? If it's silver, it should be stamped somewhere.

it looks like a old style hand warmer. we used those back in the 60's-70's

Sorry meant to add these photos. The case is about 4x3 inches covered in red velvet. In side is cotton. The silver thing is about 3 inches long and is made of charcoal I think. Thanks for you help

Great thanks so much

How did it work?

gargamel, seeing miyukis post brought back memories. i got my first 1 when i was allowed to go with my dad and uncle mushroom picking (matsutake) late 60's, along with a compass. to make it work, you lit the charcoal stick and it smoldered in the case, pretty primitive lol.

looking on line, they still sell them. this is how to video

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_lqn1SLxg

Thanks for the link 300ft. What beautiful little luxurious things they are. I'm sold!

Where does it get the oxygen to keep burning?
so the "silver bar" in the OP's picture was really charcoal ash?

The long thing is solid charcoal covered in a silver paint-maybe? It is a friends so I don’t have it here.

hi linda, good question. not sure how they worked, i don't remember if there was smoke/fumes, but they did get warm. i was surprised to see that they're still being offered!

Here is a video on how the hand warmer works https://youtu.be/Sa_lqn1SLxg

I saw that....but it doesn't address where the oxygen to keep it burning comes from.

hi all, i was hoping i could find the answer to linda's question, started to bug me too. after finding the statement below, i think there must be vent holes under the felt? he's talking about it being carried in the pouch they are sold with.

If the heat subsides after a length of time, give the whole shooting-match a few brisk twirls and the oxygen forced in will brighten things up, and it will get warmer again. Not all the sticks in a given packet seem to burn equally well and sometimes using the snap-case without the bag allows more air in.Knock out the ash when you get home and it's ready for next time.

hello again, i found a picture of 1 that shows signs of a pattern under the felt covering, might explain it.

Once the lid is closed, the rate of oxygen is limited to the leakage around the perimeter of the lid. The lid does not seal. This slows the oxidation rate and meters the burn. It also keeps it from getting too hot.

If the lid seals too tightly, the charcoal extinguishes.

Hand warmer? Interesting. My grandmother used to carry a hot potato in her pocket as a hand warmer when she was wee.